An empty container is loaded onto the Matson ship July 30. The ship ...

All items, especially food, are
carefully and effi ciently loaded and
shipped.
“Every refrigerated container
is monitored from the time it is
loaded and sealed in California or
Honolulu,” said Jimmy Matsunaga,
Transportation manager. “We know
from computer readings what the
temperature in those containers
has been the whole way no matter
which ship they’ve been on. There
is a computer chart and backup
tape we look at when the container
arrives, and any variation in the
proper temperature is possible cause
for food shipments to be rejected by
the food inspectors.”
Every container bound for
Kwajalein and Roi-Namur is tracked
by computer and before the ship arrives, the Kwajalein
Supply and Transportation Department knows what’s in
every container and to which warehouse it’s going when
it is off-loaded at the pier.
“All shipments of food, parts, household pack-ins and
other items are usually distributed within a week of arrival,”
said Matsunaga.
Matsunaga continued, “The new ships have about 40
Above, the crane operator
lowers a container to a
waiting truck. Right, tag line
handlers guide the container
onto the truck trailer bed for
transportation.
Friday, Aug. 8, 2008 7
Matson supply routes to and from Kwajalein. Outbound shipments such as
pack-outs, equipment needing repair and other items go by way of China before
heading to the states.
containers each trip versus the 120 the old barges carried.
We usually get the whole off-loading and loading
operation done in about six to ten hours. When the new
ships started coming, it took about three times to iron
things out, but we got it down pretty quick.”
One of the differences is that on the old barges, two
cranes could operate at the same time. The new ships
are not as heavy and only one crane can operate at a
time. If both cranes were operating together, the ship
would tip.
On ‘ship day,’ Echo Pier is a busy place, but not chaotic.
Every truck driver, fl agger, tag line handler, fork lift driver,
stacker driver, quarantine inspector, safety person and
crane operator has been thoroughly trained in his job and
that ensures a safe and smooth operation.
The most important jobs on ‘ship day’ are those of the
crane operators. They are not Matson employees, but
work for the Kwajalein Heavy Equipment Department
headed up by James Chong-Gum. Chong-Gum trains the
crane operators. Stacker drivers and TEREX drivers are
trained by Shipping and Transport personnel.
“The crane operators are usually changed out every
two hours,” said John Pyle of Kwajalein Range Services
Safety. “It’s a very stressful job and it gets very hot up in
the operator’s area.”
Rain does not affect the operation, but wind can and
does.
“High winds can cause the boat to rock and makes it
very diffi cult and dangerous for the crane operators to line
up containers with the trucks,” said Alan Stone, Supply
and Transportation manager. “If work has to stop, the
ship stays until off-loading can be completed.”
When a container is off-loaded,
it stops at a seal inspection station
before leaving the pier. The
inspectors check to see if seals
have been broken which would
indicate contamination or tampering.
If the seals have been
broken, the containers undergo
rigorous scrutiny before the contents
are unloaded.
In addition, Kwajalein Police
Department offi cers put locks
See LIFELINE, Page 12
The Kwajalein Hourglass